This Is A Joke, Right?

by: Chris Bowers

Fri Aug 29, 2008 at 15:58


So, I just watched Sarah Palin's speech on YouTube. I remain agog. Is this a joke? Do they really think this will help them win?

Palin is a total lightweight. She didn't deliver a single negative on Obama, and it is pretty obvious why. The main attack the McCain campaign has been using on Obama is his lack of experience. It simply isn't possible to deliver that negative now with a straight face. It certainly won't be possible for her to deliver any negatives on Obama. The whole thing just feels like a joke.

This is a really, really bad move by McCain. Palin isn't believable as President. She isn't believable in delivering any attacks on Obama, which is why she didn't. She defeats McCain's entire argument to become President: judgment and experience. Further, she is completely unknown, thereby making her a generic Republican in a year when generic Republican polls about 10-20% behind generic Democrat. Her selection has pissed off a lot of Republican insiders. To top it off, we are now presented with the most unbelievable sight of all: Republicans cheering Hillary Clinton. Yeah, people will find that one believable.

Man, this is a terrible pick. Right now, my gut says that Obama will be up by around 8% even after the Republican convention. I could be proven wrong, and this might actually work for McCain. However, Palin completely lacks believability as President, and the choice defies any reason apart from an obvious, pandering political ploy to try and win women voters. Overall, that will probably result in a net negative for McCain's popularity. He is in real trouble right now.

Also, I like the new tagline for the Republican ticket that I just read on twitter: "McPain."

Chris Bowers :: This Is A Joke, Right?

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This Is A Joke, Right? | 128 comments
Very risky pick (4.00 / 5)
Put aside her current scandal for a moment. Can anyone see her meeting with Vladimir Putin? Netanyahu? Gordon Brown?

Give me a fucking break!

This is a total gimmick pick. Once the comedians are done with her, it could be ugly. Of course I fear that identity politics wins the day and McCain is able  to steal enough women voters to close the gap. But I have to believe most Democratic female voters are smarter than that.  They should be insulted that the best Republican woman was not picked, instead McCain went with someone with zero experience on important matters.

Maybe Palin will turn out to be a MENSA genius who can deliver amazing speeches and go toe-to-toe with Biden in the debate. Or maybe this will be a Harriet Miers-type blunders that fucks McCain good.

I definitely can't see her fulfilling the typical "attack dog" role of VP candidates.

Harriet Miers (4.00 / 2)
This is the appropriate comparison, except that in that case Bush was actually close to Miers and just let his fondness for her override his judgment.

Here McCain doesn't even know Sarah Palin.  She is totally being picked for her attributes (young, conservative, new, won't upstage the old boy, will freak out the Dems) with no eye to how she helps him govern.

I wonder how Cindy feels about this pick---it's Johnny going for another, younger beauty queen.  I think now my partner is going to win the bet--she will likely divorce him if he loses and she can't be First Lady.

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.

[ Parent ]
attack dog (0.00 / 0)
She might surprise non-Alaskans with her attack dog abilities, after all she was a tough competitor in high school basketball and became mayor of Wasilla at age 32 ... which takes some grit in rural Alaska.  
[ Parent ]
LOL! (0.00 / 0)
Don't forget Miss Congeniality!

Laugh hard. Its a long ways to the bank.  
[ Parent ]
Reagan was (0.00 / 1)
70 and 74 when elected.

And yes Biden has more experience than Palin. But would you or anyone else her REALLY be that happy with Biden as President?  

[ Parent ]
A hell of a lot happier than I woudl be with McCain as President (0.00 / 0)
Biden is really, really far from perfect.  I really wish that Obama had chosen Sherrod Brown or Russ Feingold or Kathleen Sebelius as his VP nominee.  but I can deal with Biden.  I think most people around here feel roughly the same way.
[ Parent ]
hello troll (0.00 / 0)
why are you still here?

I could SEE Biden as president. I cannot see Palin as president. It's a nightmare. We have two wars going on and a recession. This pick has the potential to blow up in McCain's face, the first time Palin gets grilled on foreign policy and makes a blunder.

[ Parent ]
10:50 In Before Palin Starts Talking (4.00 / 2)
So fast forward if you want to.

"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3
THANKS!!! (0.00 / 0)
that was killing me.

Michael Bloomberg, prince of corporate welfare
[ Parent ]
Booman does a good job (4.00 / 3)
He lists 8 Republican women who are clearly more qualified for the VP position than Palin is.

It's hard to say that this is anything more than a long-shot pander...that's going to fail miserably. Looking good and talking as though you're a reformer despite only 18 months in office is a joke.

An Alaskan blog, Mudflats, has a nice little picture up of what downtown Wasilla, Alaska looks like. That about sums it up.

But then qualification has never been a top GOP priority (4.00 / 3)
This pick was intended to please the radical religious right, and retain the vote of low-information center-right indie exurbans who were toying with the idea of crossing over to vote Democratic. He's (wisely) given up on retaining the vote of smarter, better educated moderate Repubs who are leaning towards Obama, and is just trying to shore up the rest of the base by running home to mama (literally). As others have pointed out, she's a female Dan Quayle--good-looking, conservative, inoffensive, and doesn't outshine the candidate, intended to lock up the base, and maybe pick up a few swing voters. Except, he can't win with just their votes.

This was a bone thrown to teh stoopids, who make up 80% of the GOP at this point.

"Those who stand for nothing fall for anything...Mankind are forever destined to be the dupes of bold & cunning imposture" -- Alexander Hamilton

[ Parent ]
True (0.00 / 0)
But the country's at a much different point in 2008 than it was in 1988, so I don't think a ploy as blatantly transparent as this will go over.

Also, she vetoed a bill denying gays equal rights (or something to that effect), so there's something to piss off the fundos with.

[ Parent ]
True also (0.00 / 0)
She would have been a brilliant pick as late as '00, maybe even '04. But the country has changed quite a bit since then, in terms of its political and policy views. I think that voters want more substance, less positioning, now. She might be "sweet", but her being so far to the right on most issues, and lack of experience, seriously undermine whatever advantages that brings. She will appeal to people who either truly believe that things are ok, or still cling to that insulting old conservative notion that with pluck and hard work, all problems can be overcome on one's own--which Obama totally demolished last night with his "you're on your own" line. She's a bone to the denialist "America is Apple Pie" lapel-pin-obsessed fantasists on the right. And they're not sufficient to win this for him.

Sarah Huckapalin.

"Those who stand for nothing fall for anything...Mankind are forever destined to be the dupes of bold & cunning imposture" -- Alexander Hamilton

[ Parent ]
Well obviously he didn't dare (4.00 / 2)
pick a prochoice woman, so he couldn't pick most of those women.

I missed her speech, but if it's true, that she's a laughable lightweight, then it looks more stupid than bold. I suppose it's hard to know how someone will look in the national spotlight until s/he is there, but it's amazing that he'd pick someone with this little experience who didn't have big-time political skills.

It looks more and more like a novelty pick, caused by the panic of watching the Dem convention.

Two caveats:

1. VP candidates don't mean all that much
2. George Bush was president; a lack of intellectual heft obviously doesn't turn a lot of voters off. Her downhome appeal might surprise.

[ Parent ]
Caveat #2 (4.00 / 1)
George Bush was president; a lack of intellectual heft obviously doesn't turn a lot of voters off.

That was then, this is now.  I think a majority of the country has learned what happens when you choose a president based upon whether you'd like to share a beer with them.

Come to think of it, Grandpa "Get off my lawn!" Nutz loses on that test, too.

War is Peace; Freedom is Slavery; Ignorance is Strength; McCain/Palin 2008

[ Parent ]
She's A Token Pick (0.00 / 0)
This could piss off real Hillery supporters.  
Independents (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
hillary is cheering (0.00 / 0)
Today, Mrs. Clinton issued a statement acknowledging the historic moment: "We should all be proud of Gov. Sarah Palin's historic nomination, and I congratulate her and Senator McCain. While their policies would take America in the wrong direction, Governor Palin will add an important new voice to the debate."

(It's not clear whether Mrs. Clinton was aware of a chat that Mrs. Palin had with Newsweek a few months ago, in which she lamented that she had not been able to vote for a woman for president but she didn't like the Clintons' "whining.")

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes...

[ Parent ]
Why is it "historic"? (4.00 / 2)

  We've already had a female VP candidate. Palin isn't setting any precedents here.

  Except maybe for lack of qualification.  

"We judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their actions. It is a great convenience." -- Howard Zinn

[ Parent ]
Boy howdy! (4.00 / 1)
McCain is crusty and old, and therefore his single most important task in this entire campaign was this: to choose a running mate ready to be president.

So, being cap'n of the SS Good Judgment, what does he do? Picks the mayor of Whale Blubber, Alaska.

Amazing.  

I agree (0.00 / 0)
What you say sound spot-on to me, especially after listening to her this morning. Jerome seems to think there is something good about the Palin pick, but I don't see it. Any positives with evangelicals is more than outweighed by the negatives from her poor suitability for the job.

ec=-8.50 soc=-8.41   (3,967 Watts)
Where do they get people for these rallies? (4.00 / 1)
are there any non-paid attendees who are really that excited about their candidate? McCain is their Dukakis.  

Michael Bloomberg, prince of corporate welfare
Huge! (4.00 / 1)
That rally was twice the size of the town she presided over as a part time mayor two years ago.
[ Parent ]
that's an insult to Dukakis (4.00 / 1)
He's more Bob Dole...Quite a ways past his prime, a bridge to the past and running against a bridge to the future.
[ Parent ]
And how much did they have to pay (4.00 / 1)
to get them to cheer Hillary Clinton. This is like the Spinal Tap of campaigns.

Michael Bloomberg, prince of corporate welfare
[ Parent ]
From the Booman Tribune: (0.00 / 0)
Urg (0.00 / 0)
I lose
[ Parent ]
isn't believable (4.00 / 2)
this has been my point. she doesn't need to be attacked, just let her go out there and try to be a credible candidate - make her answer the common questions - make her stand up for McCain's plans. I agree, I don't think she'll look credible.

What dems can do to help is just remind the country that McCain could be a dead man walking.

Michael Bloomberg, prince of corporate welfare

Agree. Few things (even in politics) qualify as Preposterous (0.00 / 0)
And this v-p selection is Preposterous.
[ Parent ]
Agree (4.00 / 1)
Ansd in the debates Biden should just keep attacking McCain, not her.  Make her attack Obama.  Don't ignore her, just don't get into it with her and keep the focus on McCain.

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.
[ Parent ]
Too early to tell (0.00 / 0)
You have the two main candidates: one experienced and one not. Then you have the VP picks. Nowhere in modern history has the VP pick been proven to win or lose an election for the Presidential candidate. Dan Quayle's questioned inexperience  certainly didn't hurt Bush 41 for example. People vote for President not VP. Lieberman neither won or lost the election for Gore. Edwards neither won or lost the election for Kerry. Cheney neither won or lost the election for Bush.

In a recent poll a small minority of people said Biden would make a difference in if they voted for Obama or not - there was no Biden bounce. Same will hold true for McCain.

So if you take this lightweight approach that Bowers is pushing I see only one thing coming from it if it takes hold. You will end up comparing the Republican's lightweight to the Democrats lightweight. Given that the two are named Obama and Palin is that really a fight that you want to start? Given that one is the Presidential nominee and the other is the inconsequential VP nominee is that really a fight you want to start?

Isn't LBJ pretty widely credited with pushing JFK over the top in 1960? (4.00 / 2)

[ Parent ]
Quayle, too. (0.00 / 0)
Also, I don't think Bush 41 (with his own image problems regarding strength and competence) would've been able to win his second term were the American people not reassured by Dan Quayle's steely confidence backing him up, especially after a brilliantly and smoothly won war against a WMD-using aggressor.

Oh.  Right.

[ Parent ]
LBJ did it by delivering Texas (0.00 / 0)
With his machine.  Sure she can deliver ALaska, but is that enough if he loses Virginia because retired military and consultants think she's just too scarily unqualified?

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.
[ Parent ]
No (0.00 / 0)
Texas delivered 24 electoral votes. If those votes would have went to Nixon Kennedy would have still of won.

That argument is a myth.

[ Parent ]
That's hardly an unimportant contribution (4.00 / 1)
considering that Illinois was carried by 400,000 votes or whatever.  The better argument was that LBJ made Daley's voter fraud irrelevant.
[ Parent ]
What? (0.00 / 0)
That is really nibbling around the edges man.

The question was did LBJ carry the election for Kennedy with Texas. The simple answer is no. Now how any other states do you want to nibble on to try to elude the fact that the LBJ argument was not true?

Can you find it in yourself to admit that you were wrong?

[ Parent ]
LBJ delievered a large state in a razor-thin election (4.00 / 1)
You can quibble over whether it was completely determinative, but whatever.
[ Parent ]
You are not being credible (0.00 / 0)
There is no argument on whether "it was completely determinative". Again, if Nixon won Texas Kennedy still had enough electoral votes to win. Are you daft?

Geez - the election results are in the national archives available online.

But never mind. There is a segment of people online who can never admit being wrong and instead of stop talking they keep digging. I guess you are one of them.

[ Parent ]
No (0.00 / 0)
see my reply below to mimikatz
[ Parent ]
George HW Bush (4.00 / 1)
wasn't 72 years old when he ran for president.  
[ Parent ]
No previous candidate was 72 (4.00 / 1)
With the stresses on his health that McCain has had.

That's why it matters so much that she is unqualified and an extremist--believes that creationism should be taught in schools.

I think the VP can be a small plus, but a minus only when it pisses off a segment of the party or draws attention to a weakness of the candidate.  It is hard to see this as serious despite her perkiness and fresh face.


John McCain--He's not who you think he is.

[ Parent ]
Strees? (0.00 / 0)
He had some "skin" cancer which didn't debilitate him and did not spread. The is far from stress on your health.

I don't mind legitimate attacks on any candidate but what I am reading he is nuttery. You for instance try to embellish his melanoma as stressful. I know many people who have has skin cancer because they spent a lot of time in the sun and after removal they had no problems at all.

BTW 72 is not old. People live well into their late 80's today with sharp minds until the day of their death.

I'm not surprised that people are avoiding my main argument in my post upthread asking if they really want to play the inexperience card here like you want to do.

Play it on Palin and you open the door wider to play it on Obama. If yo think that is wise then go for it. I don't think it is wise.

[ Parent ]
wrong. he hasn't released records (0.00 / 0)
I think he's hiding something.  He has not released his medical records, IIRC.  

And you're wrong on age, too.  Nearly all 70 somethings will report a slowing of faculties and memory.  The job is intensely stressful.  

[ Parent ]
He was a POW, remember? (0.00 / 0)
They underwent tremendous stresses--what some would call torture (but not McCain).  He can't reach above his head.  His body was subject to abuse.  He was starved, I believe, as well as beaten.

A fellow POW just took note of how many of their fellows had passed away, that their life expectancy is less than average.

To answer your question, it is not experience in terms of years doing this or that, but breadth of experience, ability to learn from it, and above all judgment.  Obama has all three.  McCain is somewhat erratic and has a temper problem.  In fact, they were talking last night on MSNBC whether the "temperament" issue that so many Senate colleagues and others have whispered about was not going to come out into the open.  Then bam---Sarah Palin.

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.

[ Parent ]
Was NOW going to come into the open (0.00 / 0)


John McCain--He's not who you think he is.
[ Parent ]
I see (0.00 / 0)
now you are going to make the jump and zip right past the skin cancer thing because that was debunked and go too the POW thing. LOL!

Of course that is completely baseless also because there are many former POW's that have lived and are continuing to live with what they endured. They are tough guys who got past what most here couldn't endure for a day including you. But shameless as you are being you pull this out based on pure conjecture - no facts whatsoever to back up what you are saying. Pure slime politics.

Yeah bad temperament. If I recall there are a lot of Pols with bad temperaments who were never POW's. Shameful. I'm not sure what you think you are accomplishing with such lowbrow nonsense. Do you think that is a winning tactic for Obama to use? Do you think he wants his supporters spreading that crap? I guess he does because here you are.

No Mimi, skin cancer and POW nonsense is not something that Obama is going to use and neither should you. Unless of course you like putting in print stuff the Right can use against him regarding his supporters

Wow, just wow. Today here we have people wanting to paint Palin as a bimbo beauty queen. They want to play the inexperience card that will boomarang right back at Obama. They want to say McCain is going to die from cancer when it was just skin cancer. And now he is some POW nutjob - that will play well with the National Security crowd! Take a guy who even Obama says he respects what he did for his country and you want to turn him into a military hero nutjob. Bravo Mimi.

It's no wonder why Obama doesn't think much of Lefty blogs, JUST LOOK AT WHAT YOU ARE ALL SUGGESTING.

[ Parent ]
These are separate issues (0.00 / 0)
I raised the POW issue with respect to McCain's physical health.  I was explaining  my reference to "stress."  A fellow POW recently raised the issue for the same reason.

His temper issue, attested to by several senators and other people, may predate his POW experience.  

His occasional mental confusion is yet a third issue, replated to age.  Alzheimer's often begins in the late '60s. There are other causes for confusion, in his case possibly medications of which we have not been fully informed.

These may or may not be interrelated, but cumulatively they should cause some concern.

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.

[ Parent ]
I knew it (0.00 / 0)
Now we go to Alzheimer's!!!

That sounds like a winner for Obama too don't you think?

Like I said it is no wonder Obama does not think much of Lefty blogs.

Of course you never forgot anything, right? Keys? Get off the right off-ramp? Forgot the main item at the market?

Forgetfulness. It's gotta be Alzheimer's!!!

There is no other possible explanation.

Like I said - no wonder Obama doesn't think much of Lefty blogs.

It's been fun. Have a great weekend...

If you can remember too.

[ Parent ]
Chris, 2 questions: (4.00 / 1)
-- What GOP insiders are pissed about Palin?

-- How does our side push her obvious lightweight quality without getting accused of calling her a bimbo and thus being sexist (hints of which have already surfaced in comments right here on this very site)? Maybe the comedians will have enough fun with McCain's 3rd beauty queen to do the job for us?

apparently both Romney and Pawlenty to name two (4.00 / 3)

[ Parent ]
answers: (0.00 / 0)
1.  None--Rove himself pushed this pick this week...

2.  She was never formally vetted... she had some conversations, but her formal "vetting", I believe, occurred Wednesday when her plane stopped in Arizona...  She got one day of vetting... surely we can find some more corruption in that Republican big tent of theirs in Alaska....

REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!

[ Parent ]
Rove? (0.00 / 0)
As much of a head scratcher that this is, it makes me wonder what the long term strategy is. I'll admit I'm very jumpy when it comes to Rove and his minions so to hear he had a hand in this pick makes me wonder what the next couple steps in their strategy will involve.

On the surface it looks like a silly strategy. We criticize her for her lack of experience then they equate her to Obama and have a sweet little gotcha narrative. That and peel off some Clinton supporters.

Other than that I have no clue what is going on here. Must be something more to this pick than what first meets the eye.  

Laugh hard. Its a long ways to the bank.  

[ Parent ]
Rove surely wants to build a bench (0.00 / 0)
he's always been more concerned with long term planning than he has with the short term.  It's a large reason for why so much of what Rove has done has failed as badly as it has--it's all been for constructing his permanent republican majority, rather than answering the short term question of 'will this actually work?'
[ Parent ]
Cheney as "Assistant to the VP" (0.00 / 0)
That's what I qorry about.  Would he ever really leave?

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.
[ Parent ]
A lot more than that! (0.00 / 0)
I was watching the rollout today...

First of all, they DID get spooked by Obama's speech. Palin was literally vetted yesterday...  She was not vetted previously.  They are taking the campaign in a new direction, and that includes a completely different convention (if they have one)... it will be kinder and gentler... (believe it or not)

The new campaign theme is reform (which is laughable on its surface, really)...

They are going to use her for campaigning everywhere they go and make sure her story is as gushy as possible... She will get attention, regardless, 'cos she's so new...

They are going to build her up as this powerful republican superwoman who may not have a lot of accomplishments, but is "just like you and me" and balances work and family, blah blah... have her go on shooting contests, and all that good red meat stuff for the base that will also play well with suburban and exurban wealthy women...  although, I imagine many of these suburban women already are voting republican anyways...

She is no slouch, herself... she did manage to get elected governor with zilch for experience...

REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!

[ Parent ]
Business people (0.00 / 0)
Who worry that McCain is just too hotheaded and ignorant about the economy, who fear uncertainty.  She isn't a reassuring pick the way Biden was.

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.
[ Parent ]
Was she vetted? (4.00 / 3)
The pick is about 4 hours old and what do we already know.  Her claim she said Thanks but no thanks to the bridge to nowhere is a lie.  She was in favor of it and didn't consider it a bridge to nowhere.  See the New Republic article:

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs...

And then add to that her boasting about taking "oil revenues" and using them for the good of the consumers in her State is true but more than 50% of those revenues come from a Windfall Profits Tax!  From the Seattle Times:


Over the opposition of oil companies, Republican Gov. Sarah Palin and Alaska's Legislature last year approved a major increase in taxes on the oil industry - a step that has generated stunning new wealth for the state as oil prices soared.

At a time when Americans are feeling the pinch at the gasoline pump and oil companies are racking up record profits, Alaska's choice foreshadows one of the sharpest debates in the upcoming presidential election.

Democrat Barack Obama supports a national windfall-profits tax, while Republican John McCain opposes it.

Alaska collected an estimated $6 billion from the new tax during the fiscal year that ended June 30, according to the Alaska Oil and Gas Association. That helped push the state's total oil revenue - from new and existing taxes, as well as royalties - to more than $10 billion, double the amount received last year.

While many other states are confronting big budget deficits because of the troubled economy, Alaska officials are in the enviable position of exploring new ways to spend the state's multibillion-dollar budget surplus.

Some of that new cash will end up in the wallets of Alaska's residents.

Palin's administration last week gained legislative approval for a special $1,200 payment to every Alaskan to help cope with gas prices, which are among the highest in the country.

That check will come on top of the annual dividend of about $2,000 that each resident could receive this year from an oil-wealth savings account.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.c...


windfall profits tax (4.00 / 2)
I noticed that too. She said how that's not the answer but that's exactly what Alaska has been doing for 30-some odd years! Taxing oil companies on their profits and then giving back to the citizens as the price of their being able to extract a public resource!

As Bart Simpson would say,
"The ironing is delicious."

[ Parent ]
Apparently McCain has hardly met her (0.00 / 0)
He met her at the National Governors' Conference in February.l  From, the McCain campaign, via First Read:
"John McCain first met Governor Sarah Palin at the National Governors Association meeting in Washington in February of 2008 and came away extraordinarily impressed. John McCain followed her career and admired her tenacity and her many accomplishments. She was scheduled for a high profile speaking role at our convention and included in the VP selection process because of his admiration for her strong reform credentials. Last Sunday, Governor Palin and John McCain had a conversation over the phone. Governor Palin was at the Alaska State Fair, and John McCain was at his home at Phoenix. Previously, Rick Davis, John McCain's campaign manager, had also been in regular contact with the Governor as part of the on-going selection process. This past week, Governor Palin arrived with Kris Perry in Flagstaff, Arizona, on Wednesday evening. Upon arrival, Governor Palin and her longtime aide Kris Perry met with Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter of the McCain campaign at Mr. Bob Delgado's home in Flagstaff. Mr. Delgado is the CEO of the Hensley corporation, which is Mrs. Cindy McCain's family business. On Thursday morning, Governor Palin and staff were joined by Mrs. Cindy McCain and later joined by John McCain at the McCain family home in Sedona, Arizona. At approximately 11:00 a.m. Thursday August 28, 2008, John McCain formally invited Governor Sarah Palin to join the Republican ticket as the vice presidential nominee on the deck of the McCain family home."

They don't really know each other, she hasn't really been closely vetted.  This clearly makes it a gamble.  It is beginning to remind me of Thomas Eagleton in 1972.

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.

[ Parent ]
Has there ever been a national ticket weaker on foreign policy? (4.00 / 2)
McCain, clearly, is bonkers. The odds of him leading us into a civilization-annihilating nuclear war are really alarmingly high. Palin, meanwhile, is the governor of a geographical curiosity near the north pole.

Obama, meanwhile, was prescient about Iraq, has some innovative ideas about how to use diplomacy to further our interests, and would improve America's standing in the world simply by becoming president. Add Biden's almost unparalleled expertise, and... well, fuggedaboudit.

I trust that this very obvious narrative will play out in the national media non-stop between now and November.

It's not believable for us. (4.00 / 1)
But rabidly right-wing fundamentalists live in a different cognitive dimension.  
Well, now that you mention it (0.00 / 0)
If the Republicans can rally "pro-life" women than that's probably a distinct benefit for them.
[ Parent ]
Lightweight is exactly the right word (0.00 / 0)
I listened to her entire speech objectively and afterward I couldn't help but think "this is a lightweight." Same exact word that came to mind. Love you Bowers.
I predict a McCain anti-bounce at the GOP convention (4.00 / 1)
There's a reason all the Republican Senate candidates in tough races are staying away from their party's convention this year.  They know that the less that voters think of them as "Republicans," the better off they'll be.

I think four days of the GOP doing our work for us and tying themselves and George Bush to John McCain is more likely to reduce McCain's standing in the polls than to improve it.

Foreign policy (4.00 / 4)
She's governor of the only state next to Russia and has a son in the Army.  What more foreign policy experience do you need?
Being a POW would help (4.00 / 2)
That seems to qualify McCain for the job.

"It sounds wrong...
     ...but its right."
[ Parent ]
and a military wunderkind (0.00 / 0)
She is the commander of the Alaskan National Guard, which she and McCain reminded us over and over.
[ Parent ]
Also (0.00 / 0)
Her "walk away/handshake" music is Van Hagar?  
ha (0.00 / 0)
When I hear that piano riff from "Right Now" I feel like I'm watching a game where the coach has just called a timeout to ice the kicker / free throw shooter...

"I think the economic logic behind dumping a load of toxic waste in the lowest wage country is impeccable and we should face up to that."
-Lawrence Summers
[ Parent ]
Im dieing (4.00 / 2)
I wont be able to sleep until someone asks her what she's going to do if Iran gets nuclear weapons under her watch.

Michael Bloomberg, prince of corporate welfare
Shorter Sarah Palin: (4.00 / 2)
(1) Here's my family.
(2) John McCain was a POW!  = He's a Great Man!
(3) Hey, I'm a woman! PUMA's unite for me!


"You know what they say -- those of us who fail history... doomed to repeat it in summer school." -- Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Season 6, Episode 3
(4) Crystal pepsi is tasty! (4.00 / 2)

[ Parent ]
Leno is going to have to pay you (0.00 / 0)


Michael Bloomberg, prince of corporate welfare
[ Parent ]
Maybe all the other candidates said No! (0.00 / 0)
I know folks think this is a bad pick but what if this is the best candidate that said yes? I think we are being too hard on McCain.

I really feel sorry for the guy.

Jeff Wegerson

No way Mitt would say no (4.00 / 1)
He wanted to take the Edwards route and do a spring-board to the nomination in 2012. McCain hates him and wouldn't let him be the pick. But I suspect that's who his campaign wanted McCain to pick but he vetoed it.  
[ Parent ]
And he wanted Lieberman but Rove said no (4.00 / 1)
This is kind of a poke-in-the-eye pick.  He went with the one the "young'uns" at the NRO wanted, and Larry Kudlow.  They have no political sense whatsoever.  The problem with wingnut welfare.

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.
[ Parent ]
As I said ... (0.00 / 0)
at BooMan .. the serious A-listers didn't want to go down on the S.S. McCain .. they have their own careers to think about .. I figured Pawlenty had a decent shot .. and McCain and Romney hate each other .. so I don't know why Mittens is pissed
[ Parent ]
If this is a Joke... (0.00 / 0)
...why have I not been able to sleep yet (I found out the story soon after midnight), and have about an hour's worth of shuteye, yet, freaking out!

They are rolling her out very well... My family pretty much has conceeded the race (as democrats, we are doom and gloom, you know) after watching TV today...

It all depends whether or not female voters are as smart as african american voters when the republicans try to shove an "Uncle Tom", or in this case, "Aunt Tammy" onto them...

The thing stat scares me the most, is that liberals are all excited this this is going to be good for us!  every time we get excited about what McCain does, we lose ground... She, that worries me more than anything!  If there was more handwringing here, I'd be much more comfortable with the situation... ;-)

REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!

Dude, relax. (4.00 / 1)
Instead of you and your family worrying so much, why not go out and register some voters or canvass a precinct or do some phone-banking.

I guarantee it will restore your faith in humanity and our ability to not f*ck up this election.

[ Parent ]
i think that was snark n/t (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
Sorry if it was (0.00 / 0)
I can't tell anymore. Those types of comments have been pretty common 'round these parts lately so my sarcasm meter is a little off these days.
[ Parent ]
No, I seriously worry about these things.... (0.00 / 0)
...My parents country of origin's national symbol is Worrying Jesus... that really says a lot about my people! ;-)

And I haven't slept all day for real worrying... my biggest fear was that he'd pick a woman, and now he's done it!

And I do really worry about getting excited over McCain's desperate moves... Every time he acts desperate... we laugh and mock him, and then scratch our heads when he gains ground!

I'd seriously feel more confident if we were less confident...  ;-)

REID: Voting against us was never part of our arrangement!
SPECTER: I am altering the deal! Pray I don't alter it any further!
REID: This deal keeps getting worse all the time!

[ Parent ]
Like I said (0.00 / 0)
go find an Obama office and register some voters. It will make you feel better.
[ Parent ]
Just stay rational (4.00 / 1)

 I don't take the Palin pick lightly, either. She could work out for McCain in mysterious and unexpected ways.

 But the reaction, all across the board, has been "WTF?" That includes the legacy media, which has just spent the last four days censoring and bashing Democrats -- to the effect of an eight-point bounce for Obama.

 I wouldn't dismiss her. And we should NOT set the bar low for her -- she can only surprise positively that way. But ANY McCain VP pick would have changed the conversation. We just need to steer it in our favor.

   

"We judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their actions. It is a great convenience." -- Howard Zinn

[ Parent ]
Report from wingnuttia (4.00 / 2)

  My office is laden with wingnuts to an extreme degree. I never engage them in political discussion -- I just listen to them and try not to retch. I consider it an educational experience. There are fundies, tax whiners, and warmongers in that group -- a couple of them are all three.

  Anyway, this morning I overheard a couple of them talking about Obama's speech last night, and they were just rationalizing to themselves -- "Maybe Obama won't be THAT bad." "Maybe Congress can reel him in." The election's two months away, and they've basically conceded it in their minds.

  Then the Palin pick broke. I heard a trash can get kicked, though I don't know if the developments were related. One of the wingers was trying to reassure the others, "Actually, she's a very smart lady." Others weren't quite so sanguine.

  But my guess is that once they get a chance to look at her closer, they'll fall in love with her. She's a complete wingnut through and through. And all her liabilities will melt away in their eyes.

  This could work as a base-consolidator for McCain better than we think. Remember, qualifications don't mean diddly to these people. We can take nothing for granted.

   

"We judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their actions. It is a great convenience." -- Howard Zinn

Base Consolidator (4.00 / 2)
Exactly. Palin will help re-energize their base. Progressives seem all too eager to cast her as an airhead just because she lacks experience. Not the same thing. If she was stupid I presume she wouldn't be Governor of Alaska!

Not only will Palin tempt male Democrats to engage in sexist chauvinism it will also help to stoke the fires of the religious right. In their eyes she's an exemplary Christian woman who will help to rollback the evil of abortion.

It's risky, but assuming the GOP made an idiotic decision is itself foolish. I'm not advising kid gloves but the blows sent her way had better focus on her extremist stances instead of on her beauty pageant background.

McCain is most likely hoping Palin will not only appeal to women voters but he's also hoping she'll help him with his ground game. The one conservative I've talked to today has been advocating for her for over a month. He's not surprised and he doesn't see it as a bad pick. I'm with him there. The Palin pick has it's own logic.

If Progressives can't understand the pick then we can't counter it's intent. Best thing for us is to quit scoffing, quit crowing, and get to work countering what the Republicans hope to gain from Sarah Palin.

[ Parent ]
I can see it appealing in the South, but what about (0.00 / 0)
Southern Ohio?  PA?  VA? NC?  NV? NM?

I understnad this line of thinking, and I hope MSNBC and  others can keep the misogyny down, but really.  Isn't this kind of an important office?  And 6 years in the IL legislature and 4 years in the Senate are just a wee bit more than mayor of a very small town and 1 1/2 years as governor of a state with 600,000 people.  Even if it is a few miles from Russia, as the eagle flies.

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.

[ Parent ]
VA and NC are the south (0.00 / 0)
and Southern Ohio isn't as different from Northern Kentucky as you would think.  There are died in the wool social conservatives everywhere, and they do a bunch of GOTV for the Republicans.
[ Parent ]
I thought northern VA was somewhat different. (0.00 / 0)
And parts of NC, with the influx of new people and high tech.

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.
[ Parent ]
Palin - Qualified (4.00 / 1)
Truthfully? I'm playing devil's advocate here more than truly believing she will work out as a VP pick. But I see the potential for Palin to help McCain and the tendency around these parts to get over-confident has driven me nuts.

I won't dig up all the times the front-pagers have predicted a landslide but I get the feeling they believe there's no real need to push hard for Obama. It has seemed to me that the fact Obama is an unpure progressive has kept them from taking action for him as they did for Kerry and have done for other Democratic candidates. That seems extremely short-sighted to me as progressivism would suffer an enormous setback if McCain is elected. The next President will likely get the privilege of appointing three or more Supreme Court justices. I'd have thought that alone would be motivation enough to make an Obama victory the highest priority.

But they might be right. Obama may win in a landslide. I see that potential too. But I don't see the point of focusing on a big win when so many things can still happen to pull it away.

Can Palin help win Ohio, Colorado, Nevada, or Virginia? Perhaps. The conservative I spoke to thought she particularly will help McCain make the energy argument. She's a big proponent of drilling and of energy exploitation which is a big issue nationwide. She'll help them demagogue the price of gas with promises that if only we'd use our American resources we could bring gasoline prices down and  reduce our usage of foreign oil. That's a difficult line to counter and is a lot harder for us to rebut than it is for them to assert. Add in the religious right aspect of her resume, her good looks, and her gender, and you've got someone who Rove and McCain obviously believe can help them win the White House.

Will it work? I sure don't know the answer to that. But what I do believe is that over-confidence and under-estimation of opponents is the surest path to defeat.

[ Parent ]
over confident? (4.00 / 1)
Really?  I think generally most commenters here are unnecessary worriers.

I think Palin may help marginally with the religious base everywhere, and help with Alaska.   I don't see her doing much else.

[ Parent ]
How many of them are there? (0.00 / 0)
I agree that we progressives tend to underestimate how many voters such as you describe above are out there.

But do you have any statistics or guesstimates about how large a voting bloc they are?

Is there any evidence that they are numerous enough to swing the election in McCain's favor?

Lacking supporting statistics, I am baffled by the apparent rationale of McCain's choice, namely that Palin would help McCain carry women voters in general and Hillary supporters in particular.

Since when have large numbers of right wing voters been clamoring for a female candidate for VP, or president, for that matter?

And how many Hillary supporters would cross party lines to endorse a clearly unqualified woman, as Palin clearly is for the VP spot?

And how many women in general think it a grand idea for a woman with five children, including an infant with special needs, to be ditching her mothering responsibilities in favor of a bid for higher office?

All in all, my initial reaction is that McCain's VP pick of Palin puts him high up on the list of our most notorious shoot-yourself-in-the-foot politicians.

 

[ Parent ]
You're right on every count. But... (0.00 / 0)

 You're making rational arguments. And that's simply not how wingers' brains are wired.

 She's a wingnut. That's ALL that matters to them.

 Remember, they'll vote for adulterers and draft dodgers if they're wingnuts. They'll worship the pronouncements of a four-times-divorced drug addict because he's a wingnut.

 Like you, I just hope there just aren't all that many of them.

  And most Hillary supporters are rational -- but like we saw at the convention, some are not.

  We better hope their numbers are low.  

"We judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their actions. It is a great convenience." -- Howard Zinn

[ Parent ]
Winger Wiring (0.00 / 0)
I couldn't agree more with this:

 You're making rational arguments. And that's simply not how wingers' brains are wired.

She's a wingnut. That's ALL that matters to them.

I live in an extremely Republican area. I won't call it conservative because most of the Republican voters here in central Indiana aren't conservative. They vote Republican the same way they cheer for the Colts. It's their team. It's not ideology that keeps Indiana red, it's identity.

[ Parent ]
"Low information voters" (4.00 / 2)
I agree with both of you above that certain voting segments are undiscerning and act reflexively to certain candidates.

These voters are euphemistically referred to as "low information voters", which also means they tend to have little formal education and a narrow band of learning experiences.

They do not have very much hard data to support their strongly held views and prejudices, many of which are the result of what can only be called rightwing political propaganda.

When I speak to them they regurgitate Republican talking points and when I ask them questions to reveal contradictions in their thinking, they often appear to be stumped.

Many have been mobilized to the Republican cause by what David Sirota terms "subjugation psychology", ie they have arrived at their views and prejudices in response to political contrivances designed to make them feel they are being victimized by other groups and political constituencies such as "liberals" and Democrats.

Yes, there are many thousands and even millions of these folks in red states. But they are no longer the fulcrum around which the Republican Party can craft a winning voter base.

The Evangelicals have pulled away and many other segments are leaving as well a party that has wreaked so much destruction on working people as a whole that economic distress across the board is bringing the culture wars to a close as a driving force that can bring about Republican electoral victories.

According to this line of thinking, Palin is a bid to get a diminishing right wing voting bloc of conservatives who are confined to a diminishing number red states.

The choice of Palin is right in sync with McCain's entire campaign, which is a throw back to the good old times of a bygone Republican wave, which has crested and is crashing on the sand.

[ Parent ]
Central Indiana? (0.00 / 0)
Where at? I'm in W. Lafayette.
[ Parent ]
Greenwood (0.00 / 0)
South suburbs of Indianapolis, near Greenwood.
[ Parent ]
New meme (4.00 / 1)
McCain wanted Sara Palin to remind everyone of Hillary Clinton.  In reality, she reminds everyone of Harriet Myers.
She reminds me of Sally Fields (0.00 / 0)

[ Parent ]
I don't like her. I REALLY don't like her! (4.00 / 2)
.

"We judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their actions. It is a great convenience." -- Howard Zinn
[ Parent ]
They're trying to make the case over at National Review: (0.00 / 0)
http://corner.nationalreview.c...

Woefully unconvincing.

I suppose, generically, a conservative woman could shore up the base and appeal to the disaffected Clinton voters - but no one knows how many Clinton voters are really in play.  And the inexperience/ethics angle makes her a huge target.  Because she doesn't have an identity in the national consciousness, Obama gets to define her: "corrupt new governor of an insignificant state" is a start.

I don't know if Palin will lose this election for McCain, but he does appear to be incredibly inept.  I don't think he's cut out for this game.  There have been way to many gaffes and missteps, and a complete lack of the laser focus characteristic of Republican campaigns.

So, if the Democrats really want to run Walter Mondale again, I suppose this is the year to do it.

Question (0.00 / 0)
I don't know if Palin will lose this election for McCain, but he does appear to be incredibly inept.

Based on what do you make this judgement?

[ Parent ]
He just stepped on the Republican's (0.00 / 0)
most powerful narrative: The World Is a Dangerous Place, and Nobody Can Protect You But Us.

Maybe they'll reel in some of the theocons--they probably will. But they're gonna lose some of their strongest supporters, the bedwetters.

You can't tell us the world is a deadly treacherous place then give us a 18 month Alaska governor one heartbeat away.

[ Parent ]
Two reasons (0.00 / 0)
They may be subjective, but here they are:

McCain is strangely gaffe-prone for someone who's run for President before.  He's made a number of fairly understandable misstatements, but some are weird.  For example that video where he talks about Americans not being able to work in the fields for $50 an hour.  I see that, and I have no idea what he's even thinking.  Another is the house gaffe.  He didn't need to do that.  Even if the ownership of his houses is complex, there are better answers - for example, "we own a great ranch, and my wife has several properties she inherited" and then deflect anything further.  His answer was strangely disconnected from basic common sense, preparation, or even a very good ability to think on his feet.  Bush would get away with this stuff, of course, but I'm not sure whether McCain will, in the long run, have the same cover.

I also don't see him hitting his message hard or consistently.  I see themes floating around - the same ones Hillary used, mostly - but they really don't seem to cut.  The "Celebrity" ad, for example, didn't convey any message to me.  I didn't understand why I was supposed to fear or be critical of Obama's celebrity - was it the egotism, the fact that he was new on the scene, or something else?  It sort of drifted off from the celebrity theme to a policy attack on Obama.  Most of McCain's attacks that I've seen, whether on ads or on the stump, really lack the sharp focus of Clinton's in the primary, and certainly Bush's.  My impression, anyway.

[ Parent ]
Is this a joke? (0.00 / 0)
Everyone needs to read this blog from Alaska complete with a picture of downtown Wasilla:

http://mudflats.wordpress.com/

Most Americans (4.00 / 3)
Won't realize she's a lightweight and likely won't care either.  While the echo chamber here might find her laughable, the truth is that the media spin for McCain and the fact that she's a woman will do McCain far more good than harm unless the Dems unleash on her.  Furthermore, this puts Biden and Obama on a leash against her, since any attacks will be perceived as sexist.  

For the GOP, this was a good pick, and it plays to the strength of their spin machine.  Generally speaking, Republicans only have difficulty spinning two things, outward appearance and federal indictments, and given those criteria, they made a fairly good play (unless Palin has fallout over the firing issue).  Laugh all you want, but Obama and his team need to treat this as a credible threat and respond carefully.  

Leash (4.00 / 4)
Not so much. All Biden has to do is ignore her and attack McCain. He doesn't have to attack Palin. Not in the debate, not on the stump. Make her irrelevant to the discussion. Just attack McCain.
[ Parent ]
Everything is a credible threat (4.00 / 2)
The Republicans should never be dismissed as a threat until they have a 30 seat minority in the senate.  But this is less bad than it could be.  
[ Parent ]
It's great (0.00 / 0)
to watch Republican spokespeople, like Lindsey Graham, pretend to be enthusiastic while articulating the Palin talking points. They're not good enough actors to pull it off. Their lips are stretched into a smile, but their eyes look sad and bewildered, as if they know a big punch is headed their way. We've scored again.
Don't take this lightly. (4.00 / 2)
McCain has just successfully wrested the Republican Party away from the ReligioCapitalist elites and given it to the ReligioCapitalist masses. This is not a pick that will please the Romney's and the Falwell's of the Republican Party - it wasn't designed to.

But with this pick, McCain ensures that he'll get the vast majority of the religious right CONGREGATIONS - the ones who actually want to do the right thing about global warming, and try to be good neighbors. Some of them might have voted for Obama over McCain before, but I bet most of them will be happy to go back to the Republican Party, with wallets and purses open.

It gets a lot of the old "security moms" as well - the one's who might have started being skeptical about McCain's true status as a maverick. Not only does this reassure them that McCain really is a maverick, the idea of not doing everything they can to elect the first female vice president won't even cross their minds.

In short, this brings all those masses who thought, only last year, that McCain was basically a good guy, and who only started questioning that assumption recently if at all, firmly back into the sphere of influence of the McCain campaign.

This campaign now becomes very much a test simply of whether there are more real Democrats or more real Republicans in the country. The good thing is that Obama's speech last night seemed to acknowledge that the remainder of the campaign would be just that - it was a speech that was not designed to peel off the moderate republicans but instead to excite the Democrats. It was not a "crossing the aisle" speech, but a "we're bigger and better than they are" speech. I think that if Obama sticks with that approach, then the fact that a majority of the country actually is Democratic will give him the presidency. But I think McCain's selection of Palin puts a blowout election completely out of reach.

McCain's options were all bad (4.00 / 1)

  He chose the least bad one.

  Palin is a pretty woman. This kind of thing matters to low-info voters.

  Still, she's just SO unqualified that even the effect there probably won't be too significant.

  That said, the best thing the Dems can do is to set a HIGH bar for her, not a low one. Ridiculing her now just makes her look good when she proves that she can find Afghanistan on a map.  

"We judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their actions. It is a great convenience." -- Howard Zinn

[ Parent ]
This is the country (0.00 / 0)
That elected president a guy who starred in the movie Bedtime for Bonzo and the country where its most populous state elected an actor known for steroids and catch-phrases.  Don't underestimate how little the public actually cares about qualifications, at least for Republicans.  It's only the Democrats qualifications they care about, since we generally make the case all the time that we're the best-qualified party to lead the nation.  Most voters are low-info voters.  
[ Parent ]
Well yes, but (0.00 / 0)
Reagan had been Governor of CA for 8 years and had gone around speaking for years more after that.  CAS was the biggest or second biggest state during that period.  He didn't go from the screen to the WH.

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.
[ Parent ]
Blowout is not needed (0.00 / 0)
Just need Kerry plus a handful. Obama has a few ways to achieve this.

McCain is running a Kerry like campiagn of vote against Obama, but still (even with Palin) hasen't given the voters a reason to vote FOR McCain. Palin isn't a motivating pick just like Edwards or Cheney or even Biden is a motivating pick.  

People who normally vote right would have come home by election day. You nailed it with your critique of Obama's message, we Dems need to come out in force and vote in Nov and show the traditional media and conservatives that we were here all along, but dirty tricks and weak candidates got in the way.

Until now.  

Laugh hard. Its a long ways to the bank.  

[ Parent ]
McCain's new "model" (0.00 / 0)
Ed Schultz called out a Conservative's "crap" today when he compared their new VP's experience to Obama's, saying the Gov has had more than the Democrat's candidate! It was quite a slapdown for Vinnie. Don't hear Big Ed doing that very often!

OTOH, a caller from Oak Park, Illinois, said their town has a bigger population than Wasilla, Alaska, and I know there's a big Democratic presence in Oak Park.

Feel for Big Eddie - he's going to take his show to St Paul for the RNC convention. I may even listen, tho' I definitely won't be watching.

I like the analysis of McCain appealing to the masses. Gov Palin is going to give it her all.

[ Parent ]
McCain's third beauty queen (0.00 / 0)
I'd like for a Democrat that is very distanced from the Obama campaign and preferably female make the point that McCain dumped his first wife, a swim suit model, after she became disabled in a car wreck for a wealthy beautiful rodeo queen who is 17 younger.  Now that he's 72 he's going for another younger beauty pageant woman as his VP passing over more qualified older Republican women.

It could conjure up images of a dirty old man chasing his VP around the office and trying to sneak peaks down her blouse.  It'll resurrect the stories about McCain's infidelity.  Sure, it's a low ball sleazy attack on them. However, since the Republicans have done worse to Obama already, I wouldn't feel any remorse about it.

Maybe a Rachel Maddow, Whoopi Goldberg, or Janeane Garofalo would be a good person to point this out. We need someone who can deliver a sharp line with a humorous zing to it.  

John McCain wants to put SS in hedge funds.

Well, Keith Olbermann's show is about to start... (0.00 / 0)
Will we hear from Rachel tonight? Hope so!!!
[ Parent ]
Well, Rachel and Keith did mention it. (0.00 / 0)
Not with quite the background detail that I would like to see but they did mention that she is a beauty queen just like McCain's wives.

John McCain wants to put SS in hedge funds.
[ Parent ]
life imitating TV (0.00 / 0)
this is the premise of Commander in Chief, the Geena Davis show about the accidental first female president. down to her getting pressure to resign because "everybody knew" that she was just a political gimmick and not ever meant to move up from VP. maybe McCain really liked that show.

i'm pretty much with this guy:
I'm just stunned. The only thing that comes to mind is "Trophy Veep".

not everything worth doing is profitable. not everything profitable is worth doing.

Anybody else notice.... (0.00 / 0)
... that she pronounced it "nucular"?  
This Is A Joke, Right? | 128 comments
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